Could Mike Fontenot be non tendered?

[Little Slide Rooter]

D'Backs GM Josh Byrnes told Nightengale the Super Two cutoff is two years, 139 days, leaving Mark Reynolds one day shy. That saves the team some bucks. But it looks as though Adam Jones, Mike Fontenot, Micah Owings, and Brandon Morrow will be arbitration-eligible. Are Fontenot and Owings non-tender candidates?

 

It doesnt sound like a god idea, but I could see it happening. With baker and Theriot, we have our starting middle infielders. Andres Blanco is a perfectly adequate backup for both positions, and like it or hate it...OK, hate it or really hate it, Hendry doesnt seem like he'll be admitting his mistake with Miles, and hes probably here to stay. Bobby Scales is also a cheap option as a backup 2B, so I could see Fontenot being non tendered if we dont trade him.

[davell]

Arbitration-wise, whats he going to make? 1.3, 1.5 tops? What did Cedeno get his first year? Like 800,000 or so, wasn't it? I don't think we will non-tender him, but he could get dealt, I suppose.....

[Andy]

If the Cubs really wanted to dump Fontenot, I'm sure they could get SOMETHING for him, even if it's a nothing prospect.

[Guest]

If the Cubs really wanted to dump Fontenot, I'm sure they could get SOMETHING for him, even if it's a nothing prospect.

 

Except for the fact no other team will want to give him the raise he'll be getting through arbitration while also giving up compensation. It sounds like most teams are cash strapped, and even if they aren't, they probably still plan on tightening the reigns on their payrolls.

[Cubswin11]

I have no problem with non-tendering him if he is going to get $1.5 mil+. He simply isn't worth it.

[Rob]

Except he is.

[Shilzzz]

Fontenot is worth more than Bobby Scales, flat out. He obviously isn't as good as the 2008 version, but isn't as bad as what we saw last year. If he can get his walk rate somewhere between the two, keep up the defense, and slug like he has against righties, he is a valuable part of any team. There is nothing to suggest that he won't bounce back, at least marginally, in 2010. Bobby Scales is not a full time member of a World Series contenders 25 man roster.

[Cubswin11]

Fontenot is worth more than Bobby Scales, flat out. He obviously isn't as good as the 2008 version, but isn't as bad as what we saw last year. If he can get his walk rate somewhere between the two, keep up the defense, and slug like he has against righties, he is a valuable part of any team. There is nothing to suggest that he won't bounce back, at least marginally, in 2010. Bobby Scales is not a full time member of a World Series contenders 25 man roster.

While I agree he is better than scales. The better comparison would be Andres Blanco. As the back up MI spot would likely be between those two. As Miles, unfortunately, has a spot on the 25-man as does Baker. So the questions becomes who is better between Blanco and Fontenot. Personally I like Blanco you get a guy who is superior defensively and can

Play SS. With Fontenot you get more pop, but they were similar average and obp guys last year. Plus we save a couple hundred thousand with Blanco.

[shnsajax]

Can we get Owings and convince him to move to the field.

[Shilzzz]

Fontenot is worth more than Bobby Scales, flat out. He obviously isn't as good as the 2008 version, but isn't as bad as what we saw last year. If he can get his walk rate somewhere between the two, keep up the defense, and slug like he has against righties, he is a valuable part of any team. There is nothing to suggest that he won't bounce back, at least marginally, in 2010. Bobby Scales is not a full time member of a World Series contenders 25 man roster.

While I agree he is better than scales. The better comparison would be Andres Blanco. As the back up MI spot would likely be between those two. As Miles, unfortunately, has a spot on the 25-man as does Baker. So the questions becomes who is better between Blanco and Fontenot. Personally I like Blanco you get a guy who is superior defensively and can

Play SS. With Fontenot you get more pop, but they were similar average and obp guys last year. Plus we save a couple hundred thousand with Blanco.

 

I guess it's just a difference in what we think the team needs more. I'd prefer the option of Fontenot as a good platoon guy, and the runs he creates, and he really isn't bad defensively. Also, I like him for the seasonal Ramirez injury, though I guess Fox can fill that hole. Aaron Miles is really the stumbling block here, because with Blanco and Fontenot you have two valuable infielders under your thumb for a few years, and with Miles you have your thumb gauging your eyeballs out for another year.

[chuckywang]

If the Cubs really wanted to dump Fontenot, I'm sure they could get SOMETHING for him, even if it's a nothing prospect.

 

Except for the fact no other team will want to give him the raise he'll be getting through arbitration while also giving up compensation. It sounds like most teams are cash strapped, and even if they aren't, they probably still plan on tightening the reigns on their payrolls.

 

Isn't the point of arbitration hearings to find out the fair market value of a player? If no team would be willing to give Fontenot the raise you think he could get, then how can that raise be his fair market value?

[Rob]

If the Cubs really wanted to dump Fontenot, I'm sure they could get SOMETHING for him, even if it's a nothing prospect.

 

Except for the fact no other team will want to give him the raise he'll be getting through arbitration while also giving up compensation. It sounds like most teams are cash strapped, and even if they aren't, they probably still plan on tightening the reigns on their payrolls.

 

Isn't the point of arbitration hearings to find out the fair market value of a player? If no team would be willing to give Fontenot the raise you think he could get, then how can that raise be his fair market value?

 

Because fair market value isn't defined as what they're willing to spend on him, it's defined by what teams were willing to spend last year on players similar to him.